When PSA got scrapped, the Child Support Agency moved in to our office buildings space. I, along with all the others, were absorbed by DSS/CSA and I had the job of running a Post opening team - under the watchful eye of a camera, in a locked sealed room. We had to xray all mail before opening and I can assure you that it was necessary. About 1000 pieces of post per day -all done by 11.30am and out to the teams after that. Did a good job - very sensitive info: some sad, some bitter, all sorts but handled with care. So what did Maggie do? Shut down all the CSA Post opening teams across the UK and give the job to THE ROYAL MAIL to open. I was fortunate, I got out via Voluntary Early Retirement. CSA still doesn't work properly and it never will.
The buffoon who runs G4S admitted today that they only paid £8.50. I have to agree with you *dim* on the low pay front. No wonder the poor irks who were trained months ago and have been left waiting for an email from G4S telling them to come into work have found better paid jobs.
Q: Which MP awarded the Olympic contract to G4S. ... A: John Reid. Q:What is John Reid doing now. A: He is Lord John Reid, and a director of G4S Jack McH
One of the problems is the fact that private contractor Security Officers do not have any allegiance or loyalty to the client and it's just a building that's not theirs in their custody. Having said that, I did meet Contracted Security Officers who'd been with their client for a long time and considered the client to be more of their employer than their actual employer [the private security officer], but they are a rarity. But there are different duties that can affect a Security Officer's attitude to his duties. Those on day work, say, in a reception usually fall into a better attitude because they're mixing with work staff and the public. Those on night duties usually see no one during their time of duty except at the beginning and the end of the duty. So those on night duty are usually left to themselves only having to make safety calls to their control, if they have one, and set patrols at certain times.. It's a very boring job, with long shifts of 12 hours and some Security Officers working 84 hours plus a week and that does not make a employee who gives his all. There's also another factor in that a lot of employees of Private Security Firms are only Security Officers because it's a "safe harbour" while they look for another job, or because there are no other jobs, which also doesn't make for a professional, committed Security Officer. There are a lot of reasons why Private Security Firms should not be used in the "threats to the Public" situations. but unfortunately are. and lack of loyalty, professionalism, allegiance or commitment are just a few of them. But the blame also lies with the Public Servants who, despite the knowledge that they won't get the same quality of service as they do from the emergency services, ignore that fact and pursue the path of privatisation.
I seem to remember watching a programme that listed some of the less savoury items which got sent through the post to the CSA. One of the long-suffering ladies who worked there said that she'd once dealt with a young lady who maintained that she had no idea who the father of her child was, because the - er - romantic encounter had happened at a party while she was leaning out of a window being sick.
And he was wearing a crash helmet .. Bless. I loved the conversation I had with a vexed mother, about her son. "I told 'im - keep it in yer pants son. BUT WOULD HE LISTEN?". I learnt more about life in the CSA than I ever did before or have done since.
10 years ago - my first job - £3.33 an hour and sometimes i did not finish untill 2am in the morning. I did that job for 6 months never pulled a single sicky or had a day off or anything and if i finished past Mum and Dads bedtime i had to walk 2 miles home through an industrial estate and a nature reserve where you could not see your hand in front of your face. So i dont believe this is anything at all with them only offering £8.50 an hour in todays conditions.
Based on a 40 hour week I get just over £2 an hour as my state pension. Of course, I manage to sit around for much more than 40 hours a week
